The consignor noted this light musket or fusil as dating to the 1770s. It is generally built similarly to the New Land Pattern muskets but has lighter overall construction, smaller caliber, and commercial markings. These are believed to have been made primarily for the export market. The smoothbore barrel has a small bayonet lug that doubles as the front sight, an approximately .67 caliber bore, Tower private proof marks, and what appears to be "NRCo" on top of the barrel towards the breech end. The rounded lock has St. Edward's crown without the "GR" found on government contract muskets, a double line border, and "GRICE" with a ornate tail on the "R" vertically at the tail, and the inside is marked "WG" below the pan. William Grice (1715-1790) was a prominent gunmaker and ordnance contractor based in Birmingham. He designed the Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle. The furniture is brass and includes a flat side plate and escutcheon, the latter with visible tail end of the screw that passes up through the wrist. The stock has a sheet brass forend band, and the four ramrod pipes hold an iron ramrod. A two letter mark is stamped by the trigger guard tail (appears to be "IM"). A c. 1814-1815 "KW&A" (Ketland, Walker & Adams) socket bayonet is included. Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection

Very good with an applied varnish mixed with dark patina on the lock and barrel, attractively aged patina on the brass, and general mild wear. The stock is also very good and has some small chips, a few hairline cracks, scattered scrapes and dings, and general mild overall wear. Mechanically fine. The bayonet is fine and has dark brown patina and mild wear.